History
Lockhart Stadium was dedicated at a football game on September 18, 1959. The original Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL arrived in 1977, and on November 23, 1980, the U.S. men's national team beat Mexico 2–1 there in a World Cup qualifier. A $5 million renovation in 1998 raised capacity to 20,000 for the Miami Fusion, who played in MLS through 2001.
Later tenants included Florida Atlantic football and a revived NASL Strikers club from 2011 to 2016. After the Strikers left, the stadium fell into disrepair; it was demolished on May 8, 2019, and Inter Miami CF's stadium was built on the site.
Why it matters: It was the home of the Miami Fusion, one of two MLS clubs contracted after the 2001 season.
Timeline
- September 18, 1959Dedication[1]
The stadium was dedicated at a football game.
- November 23, 1980U.S. beats Mexico[1]
The U.S. men's national team beat Mexico 2–1 in a World Cup qualifier, its first win over Mexico in more than 46 years.
- 1998Renovation for MLS[1]
A $5 million renovation raised capacity to 20,000 for the Miami Fusion.
- 2016Strikers leave[1]
The second Fort Lauderdale Strikers played their last season there, after which the stadium fell into disrepair.
- May 8, 2019Demolished[1]
Lockhart Stadium was demolished.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Site of Inter Miami CF's stadium, built in 2019 and 2020[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | NASL · 1977–1983 |
|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | NASL · 1988–1994 |
| Miami Fusion | MLS · 1998–2001 |
| Florida Atlantic Owls | NCAA · 2003–2010 |
| Miami FC | USL-1 · 2009–2010 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | NASL · 2011–2016 |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 1350 Northwest 55th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Soccer, Football |
| Level | NASL, MLS, College |
| Opened | September 18, 1959[1] |
| Last used for sports | 2016[1] |
| Demolished | May 8, 2019[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 17,417[1] |
| Capacity notes | Wikipedia's infobox lists 17,417; a 1998 renovation raised capacity to 20,000. |
| Construction cost | Unknown; $5 million renovation in 1998 |
| Surface | Grass[1] |
| Owner / operator | City of Fort Lauderdale[1] |
| Closure | Fell into disrepair after the Fort Lauderdale Strikers left in 2016; the site was redeveloped for Inter Miami CF. |
Documented details
Sources
- Lockhart Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, owner operator, surface, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Original Fort Lauderdale Strikers tenancy: infobox 1977–1983, article text 'until 1982'.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.